Chapter 183 37

Chapter 183, 37

That afternoon, at Pearl City's small dock.

The sea was hushed, save for the occasional sea breeze rustling the distant trees. Ruan Cong stood at the bow, watching the anchor rise, stirring the waves.

The salty sea breeze brushed Ruan Cong's face, drawing his gaze involuntarily to another direction.

On the other side of the city, the bustling finals of the sailing regatta were underway. This annual event was a major occasion in Pearl City, requiring most of the police force to maintain order.

With police resources stretched thin and everyone's attention fixed on the race, no one would notice the activity at this secluded dock.

Ruan Cong had meticulously chosen this date. He admitted he had underestimated Shen Xi but was grateful for having secured this escape route.

If all went well, they could seize this chance to flee. Ruan Cong firmly believed that survival was paramount; there was no need to risk his life for fleeting gains or losses.

With that fool Cha Xin acting as a decoy, Ruan Cong only needed to lie low until the immediate danger passed. By the time he returned, Pearl City's power landscape would be completely transformed.

When did Ruan Cong first sense something was amiss? Perhaps from the morning they set out, he suspected the deal might go awry.

After making the call to confirm the goods were en route, Ruan Cong observed Shen Xi and Cha Xin's reactions, solidifying his suspicions.

Indeed, along with the goods came a police ambush.

Ruan Cong had no intention of fighting to the death or inviting disaster. After years of operating in the shadows, his greatest strengths were assessing situations and knowing when to make a strategic retreat.

Besides Cha Xin's men and the police, Ruan Cong had also secretly positioned a few of his own at the transaction site. But sensing trouble, he had already ordered their early withdrawal.

Later, though he appeared locked in a fierce struggle with the fake Shen Xi in the car, he was actually seeking an opportunity to escape.

Finally, thanks to a series of foolish blunders by Cha Xin, Ruan Cong found his chance. Using his agility and intimate knowledge of the terrain, he managed to escape.

With Cha Xin present, the focus of the pursuit wouldn't be on him, always affording him enough time to leave the scene.

After his escape, Ruan Cong successfully rendezvoused with his men. The ordeal had left him with some injuries. To evade the citywide police search, he hid in a meditation room at White Elephant Temple.

J Country revered Buddhism, so searches of temples were less stringent. Moreover, everyone knew White Elephant Temple was Cha Xin's territory, and hiding there seemed like walking into a trap. Yet, as the saying goes, the darkest place is under the lamp—the most dangerous spot can also be the safest. Its safety lay in familiarity; no one knew the terrain better than Ruan Cong. Even if the police conducted a thorough search, Ruan Cong could evade them for days.

As expected, the police only briefly questioned the monks before hastily concluding their search. Ruan Cong managed to hide safely for several days, narrowly avoiding danger.

Now, watching the ship depart from the dock, Ruan Cong finally breathed a sigh of relief. The scales of victory had once again tipped in his favor.

Years ago, as a rookie, he won that championship, changing his destiny almost overnight.

Achieving fame at a young age was an opportunity many could only dream of. From that day on, many people gravitated towards him, and he realized for the first time how exhilarating life could be.

He was surrounded by accolades, applause, and endless flattery. Everyone around him was a friend, all wearing ingratiating smiles.

At that time, Ruan Cong had felt destined to be the protagonist of this world.

He was born for success.

But behind the glory and applause, there was also temptation. Those things came too easily and too quickly. When everything he desired was within reach, it was also the easiest time for a person to lose themselves.

Ruan Cong became addicted to the spotlight. His online accounts suddenly gained many fans who constantly praised him. Inflated by the halo and glory, he grew arrogant, looking down on others, smoking, drinking, and neglecting his training.

Finally, the moment he lost the championship due to injury, he fell from grace. Those so-called friends who had appeared during his glory days vanished in an instant.

Even the fans who had visited his accounts daily gradually dwindled.

Victory, accolades, and attention disappeared in an instant, shifting to the new winner.

It was then that he realized those things were like a fleeting dream, perhaps never truly belonging to him.

Life is like the waves, rising and falling.

But having experienced that prosperity and reaped its benefits, how could he be willing to return to obscurity?

Yet fortune no longer smiled upon him. Not only did he face setbacks in competitions, but he also experienced estrangement from his family. After his parents divorced and remarried, they left only him and his younger brother.

At that time, Ruan Cong had nothing, only his brother, who stayed by his side unwavering. When the two brothers finally weathered those difficult times and began to live a peaceful life, he found a job as a coach. But during a trip abroad with friends, his younger brother suddenly vanished without a trace.

After searching fruitlessly, Ruan Cong had no choice but to seek help from the media. The reporters who had once chased him for interviews only published a brief news article upon his request, while others merely watched the spectacle before dispersing.

By then, Ruan Cong had long lost his former halo. Who would care about the disappearance of an ordinary person's younger brother?

But Ruan Cong still cared—he was his only family left.

To search for his brother, Ruan Cong once again abandoned his peaceful life and embarked on a path of no return.

In his twenties, filled with passion and the fervent hope of finding his brother, he set foot on foreign soil. Little did he know he was step by step walking into a hunter's trap, becoming livestock awaiting slaughter.

His past championship experience earned him a slim chance of survival, but the daily life in the fighting arena tormented him, leaving him teetering on the edge of death every day.

Ruan Cong wanted to live, so he fought with all his might in every match. Until he heard the overwhelming cheers and applause from the audience after his victory, he felt an unprecedented thrill and rediscovered the euphoria of his former glory.

The rules here were entirely different from his past world, seemingly purer than before. As long as he won, there would be rewards and cheers.

This reality made him sense a new opportunity: as long as he kept winning, he could keep living.

But Ruan Cong still retained his rationality and hadn’t forgotten his purpose for coming here.

Finally, after day after day of inquiries, he learned of his brother's whereabouts.

The truth is often hard to accept. When he first learned of it, Ruan Cong genuinely fell into despair for a time, as if all his persistence had become a joke. He could never find his brother again.

This state of mind nearly cost him a match.

On the brink of death, people often unleash their greatest potential. It also made Ruan Cong realize his destiny.

Who said he had no goal anymore?

He couldn’t find his brother, but he could still avenge him!

From that day on, Ruan Cong fought even harder, more recklessly. His spectacular performances and unbeaten record made him a standout in the fighting arena, attracting a steady stream of spectators specifically there to watch his matches.

Many influential figures also extended olive branches to Ruan Cong, but he politely declined them all.

He was waiting, waiting for an opportunity.

Finally, after a grueling two-hour battle, he pinned his opponent to the ground, rendering him immobile. Cha Xin approached him, bruised and battered: "Is it you who’s won over 800 matches in a row?" he asked, covering his nose and mouth, frowning in disgust at the smell of blood, but his eyes gleamed with shrewdness.

Ruan Cong didn’t speak, merely lying on the ground gasping for breath. At that moment, he was as humble as an ant; Cha Xin could easily crush him with a single step.

Until Cha Xin’s voice rang out again: "I want this one."

Once again, the scales of fate tipped in his favor.

At that moment, Ruan Cong felt a beam of light on his face—it was the dazzling, brilliant light refracted from the diamonds embedded in Cha Xin’s watch under the spotlight from the roof.

Ruan Cong looked up toward the light but was dazzled, unable to make out what lay ahead.

He had finally taken the first step of his plan and began to reclaim his humanity.

Following Cha Xin, Ruan Cong saw Pearl City in a new light—a place he had once deeply despised.

While he struggled in agony, another group of people lived in extreme luxury, indulging in drunken revelry.

Walking behind Cha Xin, he watched everyone kowtow and grovel before him, treating him with utmost deference, as if he were the master of this world.

After witnessing true worldly pleasures and finally standing on the elevated viewing platform to watch people fight desperately in the arena, Ruan Cong hesitated.

Killing Cha Xin would be so simple, but was that truly what he wanted?

What would revenge achieve? He would still be that bottom-dwelling insect.

What he desired was Cha Xin’s position, just like when he had once stood on the highest podium, enjoying countless cheers, applause, money, and the admiration of others.

He needed to wait, to slowly seize everything from Cha Xin’s grasp and make it his own. Only then would it be the ultimate revenge.

Ruan Cong abandoned his former quiet demeanor and low profile, becoming smooth and cunning. His exceptional combat skills were his advantage, giving him the courage to charge ahead every time.

Gradually, he drew closer to Cha Xin. He was no longer just a nameless enforcer standing at the very end.

But this was far from enough. Finally, he seized a perfect opportunity and, with some manipulation, used others to eliminate Cha Xin’s head of security during a revenge attempt.

After that, things progressed even more smoothly. It seemed as though the fortune that had once deserted him had returned. With little effort, he became the new head of security.

But even at this stage, he was nowhere near replacing Cha Xin.

It wasn’t until later that he met Mr. Bai.

Compared to Cha Xin’s savagery and coarseness, Mr. Bai appeared much more cultured.

Although Ruan Cong was still just a head of security, he could now stand and speak with Mr. Bai on equal footing.

At that moment, he found himself staring at the man’s wristwatch—an expensive timepiece that an ordinary person could never afford in their lifetime.

When Cha Xin first brought him back, Ruan Cong was still unaccustomed to being treated as human. He habitually kept his head down, his perspective limited to the watches on others’ wrists.

At some point, he went from being forced to look to developing a fascination with people's timepieces. These small, glittering objects, marking time's passage, also symbolized status and identity.

Mr. Bai seemed to see straight through him.

He took off his watch and offhandedly offered it to Ruan Cong. "You like it? Then it’s yours."

Before delight could register, alarm seized him.

Those casually spoken words frightened him so much that he didn’t dare accept it. The watch was worth a fortune, something he could never obtain no matter how hard he tried.

Yet this incredibly luxurious watch, something he wouldn't have dared imagine, was gently and smilingly strapped onto his wrist by Mr. Bai. "Young man, don’t hide your desires. Having desires is a good thing—I like people with ambition. I can tell you like this watch. I like the look in your eyes, so I’m giving it to you."

He couldn’t understand why Mr. Bai, whom even Cha Xin had to suck up to, would value him.

That day, Ruan Cong stood in front of the mirror for a long time, trying to discern what Mr. Bai had spotted in his eyes that made him abandon Cha Xin and choose him instead.

Mr. Bai had told him, "I see ambition in your eyes. You’re not content being subordinate to others, especially not to someone like Cha Xin, who thinks he's above everyone. Your backgrounds are quite similar—he only climbed up by catching a fortunate opportunity. If he could do it, why can’t you, with more skill and ambition? Besides, Cha Xin doesn't even grasp the internet. Someone like him will soon be left behind by the times."

Even now, remembering Mr. Bai’s words, a fire kindled in Ruan Cong’s chest.

Yes, why couldn’t he? Why should he always be subordinate, always answering to others? Wasn’t his goal to replace Cha Xin? This Mr. Bai would be his ticket up.

As if anticipating Ruan Cong’s wavering resolve, Mr. Bai took pleasure in watching his reaction before continuing, "Playing it safe isn’t the way for someone like you. I have a website and some business operations that require local coordination and communication. This is the future trend across all industries—a surefire profit. But Boss Cha isn’t suited for this, and even if he were capable now, I wouldn’t hand him this operation."

At this, Ruan Cong looked up, meeting Mr. Bai’s eyes for the first time.

"Would you like to give it a try?"

Desire in one’s heart can rapidly expand given the right opportunity. Mr. Bai’s words sent ripples through Ruan Cong’s mind, unleashing his ambition in an instant.

Images of a luxurious life—glitzy parties, high-end society, beautiful women, and expensive cars—flashed through his mind. But this time, he was no longer a spectator on the sidelines; he would enjoy these pleasures as the one in control.

Ruan Cong didn’t know whether Mr. Bai had detected the hatred mixed with complex feelings he held toward Cha Xin or if there was something else about him that attracted Mr. Bai.

But it didn’t matter. Whatever the reason, he would seize this opportunity to rise through the ranks.

He wanted to sit at the top of this kingdom, trampling all those who had once looked down on him.

The entire country of J was essentially a colossal fighting pit. Ruan Cong was determined to win—he wanted to be the last man standing in this game.

With Mr. Bai’s support, Ruan Cong gradually began his new plan. First, he slowly moved part of his assets out of Cha Xin’s control and started forging his own power base. Some of these people were once loyal subordinates of Cha Xin, but so what? His goal was to undermine Cha Xin's authority.

Thus, using Cha Xin’s resources and Mr. Bai’s backing, he began taking orders on the website.

Just as Mr. Bai had said, it was an immensely lucrative industry. In just a few months, Ruan Cong earned more than he had in the previous decade combined—far surpassing even his most glorious days.

High returns came with high risks, but Ruan Cong showed no concern. He was using Cha Xin’s influence and resources, bleeding others dry to build his own power. It was ideal.

The deals that he let slip were enough to boost the human trafficking industry in Pearl City, yet Cha Xin, that fool, remained completely unaware, even preening over his apparent success. He should have been left behind by the times long ago. The only reason he was kept around was to act as a decoy—after all, on the website, the name Qing Jin was linked to Cha Xin.

At the same time, Ruan Cong was also dividing Cha Xin’s former partners. He felt he managed this balance well—not harming his own interests while allowing Cha Xin to profit enough to remain the high-profile frontman.

Meanwhile, Ruan Cong stayed hidden behind the scenes, orchestrating everything as the true master of this world.

Ruan Cong had finally reclaimed his dignity.

He collected more and more watches, each more luxurious and expensive than the last. He had a special cabinet built to display his collection. Whenever he returned home, he would caress these watches, almost unable to put them down.

When the cabinet was full, it signaled his boundless ambition—he was never content to stop there.

When Ruan Cong noticed the police were systematically targeting Cha Xin’s operations, he keenly realized his opportunity had arrived.

He began secretly cooperating with the police, step by step driving Cha Xin into a corner, while spreading rumors of a mole within Cha Xin’s ranks, forcing him to take countermeasures.

Everything was going according to Ruan Cong’s plan, until Shen Xi’s arrival introduced an unexpected variable.

He couldn’t figure Shen Xi out, nor could he pinpoint his identity. But he knew that whoever Shen Xi was, he would bring change to Pearl City.

And change wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for him. He wanted to stir up trouble in Pearl City—only in chaos could he legitimately take over Cha Xin’s power.

So, initially, when Cha Xin repeatedly tested Shen Xi, Ruan Cong didn’t interfere much. But at the same time, he was also probing Shen Xi in his own way.

However, Shen Xi was just as cunning as he was. Every attempt to test him ended with Ruan Cong at a disadvantage, making him realize that, regardless of Shen Xi’s true identity, he should avoid direct conflict.

Thus, Ruan Cong chose to yield every time Shen Xi provoked him.

Until the confrontation during the delivery—after just a few moves in the car, Ruan Cong realized how troublesome Shen Xi was. There was no way he could kill Shen Xi quickly. At that moment, Ruan Cong decided he needed to find a way to escape.

As long as he survived, he hadn't strayed from his original plan.

The police could never completely dismantle Cha Xin's forces; even for the sake of balance, they would leave a portion intact. As long as these people remained, he could seamlessly reclaim this part of the power upon his return.

By then, he would be the new master of this empire.

However, how to return was a plan for the next step; his most pressing issue was how to escape.

Ruan Cong had been lying low for some time, until today...

Just as he recalled up to this point, Ruan Cong suddenly heard the sound of water being parted. His eyes scanned the sea surface and soon spotted Cha Xin's yacht.

He frowned, seeing Xiao Yuan at the helm and Shen Xi standing on the deck.

The moment he recognized the two, Ruan Cong's pupils contracted sharply, his eyes wide with fury.

"They just won't quit!" Ruan Cong cursed under his breath and hurried back into the cabin. "Full speed ahead! The police are catching up!"

.

The vessel they were on was a medium-sized cargo ship. Even at full throttle, it couldn't shake off the police pursuit. However, the experienced helmsman skillfully evaded the chase on the open sea, making it difficult for the police to form an encirclement and capture them all at once.

But everyone knew that the speedboat had limited fuel, and the police were running out of opportunities.

As soon as the police vessels attempted to approach the cargo ship, gunfire erupted.

Bursts of gunfire constantly rang out, bullets flying through the air.

Under the cover of firepower, Rong Qing's speedboat drew alongside the cargo ship. Riding the waves, the speedboat was lifted to the crest, and at the moment the two vessels were briefly aligned, Rong Qing suddenly leaped without hesitation.

This was a high-risk boarding maneuver in maritime law enforcement operations, commonly known as "jumping the gap."

"Jumping the gap" refers to the action of personnel boarding another vessel from one ship by specific means while at sea. The executing personnel needs to read the conditions and maintain physical balance, requiring extremely high levels of explosive power, speed, and agility.

Miss the jump and you'd fall into the water, while succeeding but failing to respond promptly could lead to resistance from suspects and life-threatening dangers.

Yet in the past, law enforcement officers risked their lives time and again, charging forward to board the drug runners' and criminals' vessels.

Braving amidst the hail of bullets, Rong Qing fearlessly made the leap...